Chapter 189: Is It Worth the Struggle?

The sound of strings and bamboo rose, and a dozen or so dancers in colorful gowns entered gracefully, their flowing sleeves fluttering, steps light, swaying with the music.

The dance moves were uniform and pleasing to the eye.

After a segment of the group dance, the music eased slightly.

One dancer stepped out of the line and lightly danced around an envoy's table.

After a moment, she picked up the wine pot on the table, filled an empty cup, and presented it to the envoy before her.

The envoy took the cup, smiling broadly, and drank it all in one gulp.

The dancer then produced a silk-thread sachet from her sleeve, and, like a butterfly among flowers, she circled the table, offering the sachet while dancing to the envoy who had just drunk.

The envoy took it, tied it at his waist, and laughed loudly: "Da Xia's welcoming dance is indeed exquisite!"

The dancer bowed and retreated.

Thus, the dancers came out one after another, circling the envoys' tables, first offering wine then presenting sachets.

Strings and bamboo lingered, the dancers' poses were lovely, as cups and tallies crossed, the hall filled with host and guest enjoying themselves, a scene of harmonious joy.

The last dancer, moving, arrived before the table of the Lie Guo envoy delegation.

The Lie Guo envoys showed no outward sign, but their hearts rose.

The dancer offered wine; Xiao Ze supported his forehead, feigning inability to hold his liquor, and gently set the cup on the table.

Wu Luo's wine cup paused in his hand, his eyes flickering.

The dancer spun her steps around the table, drew out a sachet, and again sought to approach.

Tuan Tuan lifted her head and glanced at her.

The dancer suddenly slipped, crying out, "Ah ya!"

She fell face‑first to the ground with a hard thud; nasal blood burst forth, her hairpin dropped, her hair scattered, and she lay in a sorry state.

The string and bamboo music stopped abruptly.

The entire hall fell silent.

Gongsun Hong's face sank: "Get down!"

The dancer covered her nose, scrambled up, and retreated.

Several palace attendants rushed forward and quickly cleaned the floor.

The music sounded again, as if nothing had just happened.

Another dancer took out a sachet from her sleeve and, dancing, approached the table.

Tuan Tuan frowned, "Again? How annoying!"

She covered her nose with one hand, raised the other to point at the sachet in the dancer's hand, and shouted loudly: "Don't come near! There's something bad inside! It reeks!"

The dancer's motion halted instantly.

"Thud!" a muffled sound.

Xiao Ningchen sprang up like a fierce tiger, leapt from the table, kicked the dancer to the floor, snatched the sachet, and clenched his fingers with force.

"Rip!"

He tore the sachet apart; the dried flower spices scattered down, and along with them fluttered a small folded yellow talisman!

Xiao Ningchen bent, pinched the talisman between his fingertips, unfolded it fully, held it aloft, and the cinnabar‑drawn strange symbols twisted across the paper.

He lifted his gaze to Gongsun Chi on the throne and said, "Your Majesty! Is this how Da Xia treats guests? Using such dark arts to secretly harm our Lie Guo envoys—what is your aim?"

The hall erupted in an uproar!

All the envoys who had just received sachets stared in horror at the talisman in Xiao Ningchen's hand, their faces changing; they hastily untied the sachets and flung them to the ground like hot potatoes!

Jifeng snorted coldly, his voice like a great bell: "What a splendid Nine Brew Welcome Dance! It actually hides this kind of flattery!"

Gongsun Chi's face darkened.

Wu Luo gave a faint smile: "You have misunderstood; this is a blessed talisman bestowed by Da Xia's divine child. Those who wear it receive grace and prosperity, and all will go smoothly."

Tuan Tuan looked at him: "Oh, then why hide it?"

Jifeng picked up the sachet he had just dropped, tore it open, poured its contents onto the table, gave it a quick raking, and said: "So the divine child only grants blessings to Lie Guo—there's none for my Xi Lu!"

Tuan Tuan looked at him: "Uncle Ji, you're better off without it! This thing will steal your luck and give it all to him!"

She pointed with her little hand—it was none other than the divine child, Gongsun Zhi!

Gongsun Zhi jumped up: "You're talking nonsense!"

Tuan Tuan made a face at him: "You go around stealing others' luck, that's why your face is bad; keep stealing and it'll rot!"

Gongsun Zhi was shocked—how could she know?

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on his face.

Gongsun Zhi, unable to bear the shame, said: "My face isn't ruined! It's all you! All your fault!"

His skin didn't move, but his features twisted, looking extremely eerie, as he pointed at Tuan Tuan and shouted hoarsely: "You're talking nonsense! I am a divine reincarnation—I don't need to steal anyone's luck!"

"They all voluntarily offered it to me!"

Tuan Tuan laughed: "How strange! Would you be willing to give your luck to others? Since you aren't, why would anyone else be?"

Gongsun Zhi froze; the madness in his eyes cracked bit by bit, leaving only blankness.

He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but didn't know how, and couldn't utter a word.

"Would I be willing to give my luck to others? Of course not!"

"Then why would others be willing?"

The National Preceptor said it's because I am a divine reincarnation, but if that were true, why would I need others' luck?

These questions, never before considered, lingered in his heart, making him doubt for the first time whether he truly was a divine reincarnation.

Discussion rose throughout the hall.

"'So‑called divine child, actually a thief who steals others' fortunes?'"

Even luck can be stolen? What kind of black art is this?

Heavens, I'll have to keep my distance from Da Xia people from now on—what if they steal mine?

Gongsun Zhi lifted his head, looked up at the lofty Wu Luo, and his eyes were full of confusion.

Jifeng clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Marvelous! Truly marvelous! So the gods of Da Xia are raised by snatching meat from other people's bowls?"

Such shameless gods—I've truly never seen the like before!

No! It's not so! I'm not! I didn't steal anything! I am a reincarnation of a god!

"Ah—" Gongsun Zhi let out a scream that was not human, clasped his head with both hands, and spun around like a headless fly, charging wildly toward the hall's exit!

Gongsun Hong shouted, "Brother Zhi!"

Gongsun Zhi seemed not to hear.

"Bang!" He knocked over a court attendant's fruit tray, and the fruits scattered across the floor.

Juice splashed onto the corner of his robe, yet he remained oblivious.

Stumbling and bruised, he covered his face and fled from the main hall, crying and wailing.

Gongsun Hong's complexion turned deathly pale.

Gongsun Chi rose slowly, waved his robe sleeve, and turned back into the inner hall.

Wu Luo's smile vanished; expressionless, he glanced at Tuan Tuan and followed.

Everyone in the main hall stared at each other, none having expected that a lively palace banquet would end so abruptly.

The group returned to Yiguan.

Xiao Ze let out a long sigh: "Thanks to the mysterious person's early warning, otherwise today we might have truly fallen in the Da Xia Imperial Palace."

Tuan Tuan, thinking of Jifeng, asked: "Uncle Jifeng also stays at Yiguan?"

From outside the door, Jifeng's bright laugh rang: "Exactly! Little Tuan Tuan!"

In Gesang Gong.

Gongsun Chi looked at Wu Luo: "With Zhi like this now, can he still bear great responsibilities?"

Wu Luo thought for a moment, then gently shook his head: "I, a humble monk, have failed His Majesty."

Gongsun Chi waved his hand: "The Fiery Nation Immortal Envoy is extraordinary; Zhi is not her match, what does that have to do with the National Preceptor?"

"Among my imperial sons, is there still talent fit for appointment?"

Wu Luo hesitated briefly: "We still need to observe his temperament and examine his roots."

Gongsun Chi set down his tea cup: "Once you decide on a candidate, you may use them as you wish."

Wu Luo bowed: "His Majesty is wise."

He paused: "The Fiery Nation Immortal Envoy's fortune is far beyond what I anticipated; I wish to activate the stealth transport array early."

Gongsun Chi lifted his gaze: "Is there any risk?"

"Everything in the world has a price; it's up to His Majesty to decide whether it's worth a gamble."